In January 1983, the Army School of Music was relocated at Simpson Barracks, and was re-designated the Defence Force School of Music on 21 June 1984. His Excellency the Governor General, Sir Ninian Stephen AK GCMG GCVO KBE, officially opened the purpose built school building on 30 October 1984. The Royal Australian Navy School of Music staff and trainees commenced training at the Defence Force School of Music in January 1985. In 1998 Australian Army Band Melbourne co-located with the School to assist in support of the training requirements of advanced courses.

The Defence Force School of Music prepares musicians for employment in Service Bands with a comprehensive curriculum of music and management training. This ranges from Initial Entry, through a structured career progression, to commissioned Band Officer. Apart from its primary role of training musicians of the Australian Defence Force, the school has gained an international reputation for providing quality training for students from a number of overseas countries.

Directors of Music

Until the beginning 2009 the Director was also the Head of Corps and, as the senior military musician in the ADF, the Commandant of the Defence Force School of Music. In 2007 the Director was also been appointed as the Technical Controller Army Bands.

a. LTCOL R.A. Newman MBE July 1951 - July 1971

b. LTCOL A.H. Henderson July 1971 - January 1981

c. LTCOL T.P. Wahlin January 1981 - May 1982

d. LTCOL R.A. Taylor MBE May 1982 - February 1983

e. LTCOL C.R. Fischer MBE February 1983 - March 1986

f. LTCOL C.A. Harper AM, MBE March 1986 - December 1986

g. LTCOL A.A. Sillcock CSC December 1986 - January 1999

h. LTCOL H. Ward January 1999 - January 2004

i. LTCOL P.A. Pickett CSM January 2004 - January 2009

From January 2009 the Director of Music Army position was split from the Commandant DFSM position and moved under the command of Army Headquarters located in Canberra. The revised Commanding Officer DFSM position is directly responsible to the COMDT Defence Command Support Training Centre (DCSTC).

Commanding Officer DFSM 2009 onwards

j LTCOL G.R. Lambie January 2009 - Present